Official in charge of Delhi Games ticket sales is sacked

Official sacked after Indian media reports bundles of tickets found in rubbish bins and many stadiums empty

Few spectators in the athletics stadium at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The man in charge of tickets sales has been sacked after bundles were found in rubbish bins. Photograph: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images

Indian media have reported bundles of valid tickets found in rubbish bins, and two people were arrested in the capital over the weekend on charges of touting. Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the organising committee, said a volunteer had been reported to police for trying to sell tickets fraudulently. "There is no question of condoning such acts. We won't encourage such things," he said.

Sanjeev Mittal, who was appointed head of ticketing by the prime minister's office, has now been replaced by his deputy, officials said.

The games were supposed to be the moment when India proved its abilities on an international stage. Instead preparations for the event were marred by missed deadlines, shoddy construction and allegations of massive corruption.